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Student ProgramsFarris offers a unique opportunity to articled and summer students who want to learn the practice of law in an exciting, challenging and supportive environment with excellent prospects for future employment. OrientationThe opportunity to become thoroughly familiar with our people, facilities, and resources, is fundamental to every student’s success. Therefore, Farris provides all summer and articling students with a thorough orientation program. The various components of the orientation will occur within the first two weeks of your arrival at the firm. Your introduction to our systems and resources will include the training necessary to ensure your proficiency with our office procedures, library and research capabilities, and our technology. We will arrange for you to tour the Vancouver Courthouse (including the B.C. Supreme Court and Court of Appeal Registries and Chambers) and Small Claims Court. You will also be provided with an overview of the Land Title Office. RotationsArticlingUnlike some law firms, our articling program is not focused upon a strict rotation system. Our emphasis – consistent with the degree of responsibility our students assume – is to promote each individual’s exposure to a broad range of practice areas within the firm. Our modified, or "relaxed," rotation system is designed to provide our students with a broad range of experience. Each articling student spends 3 months in a litigation/labour rotation and 3 months in a solicitor rotation. For the balance of the articling period, each student is assigned to a “general” rotation. During this time, a student is not assigned to any particular area and may seek out work from any practice area. We believe that students benefit from extended involvement in the matters that they work on as well as continuity of exposure. Our students, therefore, continue to be involved in files that are ongoing when they change rotations. We make every effort to ensure our students experience a balanced, challenging and fulfilling year of articles, and can accommodate our students’ requests to focus on a specific area of law that may be of particular interest to them. SummerOur summer program mirrors the flexibility of our articling program. Students may seek out and receive work from any practice area. Students may prioritize gaining experience in their specific area or areas of interest. Continuing EducationTo complement the experience and training that students gain on files, we have designed a comprehensive seminar training program for our articling and summer students. The seminars are given by our lawyers and take place over lunches and breakfasts throughout the year. Written reference materials are also provided. The instruction given provides students with practical skills and advice that will equip them to be successful at the practice of law. GuidanceFarris employs a lawyer (Director, Associate & Student Programs) to focus solely on student and associate programs. This person is a continuing resource for all students at the firm. In addition, every articling and summer student is provided with two mentors – their Principal, who is a partner, and an associate. Each student has one mentor from litigation or labour and one who is a solicitor. Your mentors and the Director, Associate & Student Programs are available to assist you with your legal training, professional development and any issues or questions that you would like to discuss. FeedbackStudents are encouraged to have ongoing discussions about their work and experience with all lawyers in the firm. We also have a formal review process to provide students with constructive feedback on their development. Feedback is actively sought from every lawyer who has worked with the student. Students meet with their Principal and the Director, Associate & Student Programs to discuss these evaluations. At that time, students are encouraged to discuss their experience and opportunities to date as well as their goals for the balance of their articles. Summer students are also provided with formal feedback and an opportunity to discuss their professional development and experience with the firm. The WorkSimply stated, our students do virtually everything a lawyer might do. We assign significant responsibilities to our students from the outset, on the principle that each young lawyer’s growth and achievement is best able to develop through direct involvement in challenging, professional experiences. We encourage, and expect, each student to conduct themselves as a lawyer to the greatest extent possible, recognizing the support and guidance they require in order to do so. Students are not assigned to a partner or group, but work with the firm as a whole, and are able to confer and relate with lawyers, staff and clients. Discussions and conferences are frequent and informal among everyone at the firm, and every effort is made to ensure that the client’s interests are communicated to the student who may be discharging a specific assignment on the client’s behalf. Students appear in court and chambers; handle their own files; research and prepare opinions; attend and conduct examinations; participate in negotiations, meetings and transaction closings; and draft court documents and commercial agreements. Students enjoy ample opportunity to become involved in a variety of areas, and are encouraged to seek out work in areas of particular interest to them. Our clients, practice areas and work reflect the breadth and depth of the matters in which our students are involved. Historically, our students have achieved significant advances in their knowledge and practical experience as a result of their exposure to complex transactions and cases at an early stage. The benefits are twofold: we succeed in our goal of helping to develop the individuals we look to as our future associates and partners, and our students enter the profession with increased potential for success. Billable TargetsWe do not have set billing targets for partners and associates; likewise, we do not assign billing targets to our students. We encourage our students to manage their workload, recognizing the importance of outside activities and home life. Typically, each student’s billable hours will vary from month to month throughout their articles. TravelFrom time to time students may be asked to travel, primarily within the province and Canada, and occasionally overseas. Support and ResourcesLibraryThe collection in our library is surpassed only by the B.C. Courthouse Library and the Law School at UBC. The Farris library contains historical statutes, law reports and journals dating back to the early 1900s. This material provides a significant benefit to our clients, many of whom have been in business for decades. Staffed by a full-time Librarian and Library Technician, our library provides access to numerous resources including Quicklaw, Lexis, LawSource, Livedgar and a wide variety of CD Rom products. Our Library Services Team is available to provide students with ongoing training and support as required. TechnologyAll students have their own computer, with internet access. We operate in Windows XP Professional using Microsoft Word and Interwoven's Worksite/Desksite document management system - a leading system in the marketplace today. We use Microsoft Back Office, including Microsoft Exchange - which integrates mail, calendar and a contact database with the Microsoft suite of programs - as well as remote access services that allow high-speed Internet access from outside the firm via services such as Telus' ADSL. Those with only modem access can use our Citrix MetaFrame/Microsoft Terminal Server to dial into the system and access our entire network, regardless of the technology they are using. SecretarialOur students – approximately eight throughout the year – are supported by a senior secretary and junior secretaries. Word ProcessingWord processing support is available from 7:30 a.m. to midnight five days per week, and from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. PremisesWe have recently completed comprehensive renovations to the premises we have occupied for 30 years. The renovations combine the classic, traditional image of our firm with state-of-the-art amenities to best accommodate our clients, lawyers and staff. Student OfficesUnique among many firms, we aim to assign each student to a private, exterior office with a commanding view. Although students rotate between practice areas, they usually retain their offices for the duration of their articles. LoungeWe offer a subsidized full service cafeteria. In addition, lawyers and students can relax in our comfortable lounge, which is equipped with various amenities. Compensation and BenefitsSalariesWe compensate our students and associates at the top of the Vancouver salary range. BenefitsOur benefits programs for articling students are highly competitive, and include medical, dental, life insurance, AD & D, extended health and long term disability coverage. Tuition and MembershipsFarris pays each articling student’s
Summer StudentsWe compensate our summer students at the same level of salary as our articled students. In addition, our summer students who return to article at the firm receive third year tuition fees and a book allowance to a maximum of $6,500. Vacation, Leave and SabbaticalsArticled students are entitled to two weeks of paid vacation, taken at a mutually agreeable time. Leaves and sabbaticals are addressed on an individual basis. Summer students receive four (4%) percent vacation pay. Career PotentialThe career opportunities at Farris are excellent, and students who have articled with us are prevalent among our partners and associates. Hire Back RecordHistorically, we have hired a relatively small number of students for a firm our size, but have hired back a high percentage of summer students as articled students, and articled students as associates. Hireback Ratios: Articling Students 2005-2006: 8 out of 8 Hire Back TimingOur decision to hire back an articling student is made approximately two months before the student's call date. We aim to communicate offers of articling positions to summer students by the last week of June. Factors That Govern Hire Back DecisionsOur decision to hire back a student is governed by a number of factors, including performance, compatibility, potential, current need and economic conditions. From time to time, we have hired back articling students who have demonstrated exceptional promise, even though our needs at the time did not warrant it.
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